Gully 133 24/25 Timber Sale

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Forest Service is soliciting sealed bids for the Gully 133 24/25 Timber Sale located in Tate's Hell State Forest within Franklin County. The procurement involves a thinning operation on approximately 1,359 acres of 27-year-old planted slash pine, with specific harvesting requirements including two cut rows per three leave rows and tree selection to achieve a residual basal area of 60-70 square feet per acre. The timber sale includes an estimated 41,285 tons of pine pulpwood, 50,805 tons of pine chip-n-saw, and 6,903 tons of pine sawtimber. Logging operations mandate the use of a tracked feller-buncher or equipment with dual tires to minimize rutting, with additional requirements for low ground pressure skidding equipment and matting on heavily used skid trails. The contract will be an eighteen-month term, with sealed bids due on January 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST, to be opened at 865 Geddie Road in Tallahassee, Florida. Interested parties can obtain complete bid information by contacting Tanner Copeland at (850) 697-0023. The Florida Forest Service reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any irregularities in the submissions.

The timber sale appears to be open to all qualified bidders without specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The sale area is located within a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certified Forest (NSF-SFI-FM-C0245755), which may imply certain environmental and operational standards. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the substantial timber volumes suggest a significant potential contract value. The sale boundaries are defined by roads, wetlands, and timber type changes, and the forest is part of a larger state forest management system. Bidders will need to demonstrate capability in forest harvesting operations, with specific equipment requirements including environmentally sensitive logging techniques. The procurement process emphasizes operational efficiency and minimal environmental impact, with detailed specifications for equipment and harvesting methods to protect the forest ecosystem.